Quake strikes off coast of Vanuatu
Posted February 03, 2012 01:27:01
Map: Vanuatu
A shallow 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of the South Pacific island of Vanuatu late on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, but there was no tsunami warning.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres, around 122 kilometres west of the capital Port Vila.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued an information bulletin but no alert, saying "no destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical earthquake and tsunami data".
The earthquake hit shortly after midnight (local time), USGS said.
Philippines issues local tsunami alert after quake hits between islands
By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 12:55 AM EST, Mon February 6, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
The Philippines issues a tsunami alert for the coastlines near the quake
There is no tsunami warning for the wider region
The earthquake occurs 44 miles from the coastal city of Dumaguete
Guests at a hotel in Bacolod evacuate
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/06/world/asia/philippines-earthquake/index.html
(CNN) -- A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Monday off the third-largest island in the Philippines, prompting the country to issue a tsunami alert for the coastlines near the epicenter.
The quake struck about 11:49 a.m. (10:49 p.m. Sunday ET) about 70 kilometers (44 miles) from the coastal city of Dumaguete on the Philippine island of Negros, the USGS said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued a level 2 tsunami alert for areas along the Tanon Strait between Negros and the neighboring island of Cebu.
That's a notch below the highest tsunami alert of level 3, which requires evacuation of the affected areas, a spokeswoman for the institute said.
She said the institute was advising people to watch out for unusual waves and to stay away from the shoreline.
No tsunami warning was issued for the wider Pacific region and there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
The earthquake occurred in the ocean at a depth of 46.6 kilometers (29 miles), according to the USGS.
At the Circle Inn Hotel in the city of Bacolod, which is on Negros but not on the coast nearest the quake's epicenter, a receptionist said the quake lasted between three and five minutes.
"We felt the shaking," the receptionist said. "The guests all exited the building. But all the people here are okay."
There was no damage to the hotel, the receptionist said.
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) placed the provinces of Negros and Cebu under tsunami alert level 2 after a series of earthquakes hit several parts of Visayas before noon today.
Phivolcs said that the quake measured at magnitude-6.9 and was tectonic in origin. It occurred in waters off Negros Oriental at 11:49 a.m. with a depth of 10 kilometers.
"Philvolcs tsunami alert level is now 2. The concerned public is advised to be on alert for unusual waves," Phivolcs said in its advisory.
The tsunami warning was raised to put on alert the residents in coastal areas, particularly in the eastern portion of eastern Negros Oriental and the western portion of Cebu province.
“People are advised to stay away from the shoreline. People should not go to the coast to watch the tsunami. People whose houses are very near coastal areas in Negros and Cebu islands are strongly advised to be watchful,” the agency added.
Lone fatality
Meantime, a child was killed in Taysan town in Negros Oriental after he was pinned by a concrete wall that collapsed during the quake, reported the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
NRRDMC executive director Benito Ramos said that he received a report that the earthquake shattered several glass panels of a shopping mall in San Carlos City.
While the tsunami alert was raised, Ramos said the possibility of its occurrence is very slim.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the quake at magnitude 6.7. It traced the epicenter at 82 kilometers north of Dumaguete City and 87 km west-southwest of Cebu City.
Phivolcs has recorded four aftershocks near the Negros epicenter with magnitudes 5, 5.3, 5.8 and 4.5.
Operations in government offices and classes in all school levels in Negros, Cebu and Iloilo provinces were suspended due to the strong earthquake.
The quake was felt strongest at Intensity 7 in Dumaguete City and Vallehermoso town in Negros Oriental. It was also felt at Intensity 6 inLa Carlota City and La Castellana towns in Negros Oriental and Argao town in Cebu province.
In the Phivolcs' Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS), Intensity 7 was described as "destructive." It said that during an Intensity 7 quake, people in upper floors may find it difficult to stand and heavy objects and furniture may overturn or topple.
"Old or poorly built structures suffer considerable damage. Some well-built structures are slightly damaged," the Phivolcs said in the PEIS.
The areas of Roxas City; Dao and Ivisan in Capiz; Iloilo City; Ayungon town in Negros Oriental; Kanlaon City; Lapu-lapu City; Guimaras; Cebu City; San Carlos City; Bacolod City; Sagay City; Tagbilaran City; Candoni and Binalbagan towns Negros Occidental felt the quake at Intensity 5.
The quake was also felt at Intensity 4 in San Jose de Buenavista, Pandan, Anini-y, Patnungon towns in Antique; Kalibo in Aklan province, Dipolog City, Sipalay in Negros Occidental and Ormoc City.
It was also felt at Intensity 3 in Butuan City in Agusan del Norte; Legaspi City, Albay; Carmen, Cagayan de Oro; Tacloban City; Catbalogan; Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte; Masbate, Masbate; Cagayan de Oro City; Intensity 2 in Cabid-an, Sorsogon; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Mambajao, Camiguin and Intensity 1 in Pagadian City.
Magnitude-5.6 Quake Strikes Northern California
by The Associated Press
text size A A A
HOOPA VALLEY INDIAN RESERVATION, California February 13, 2012, 06:45 pm ET
HOOPA VALLEY INDIAN RESERVATION, California (AP) — A moderate earthquake struck Northern California's coast Monday afternoon, rattling nerves around the Oregon border but yielding no immediate reports of major injuries or damage.
The magnitude-5.6 quake struck at 1:07 p.m. about 18 miles (30 kilometers) east of Trinidad, in an unincorporated part of Humboldt County, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The epicenter was a rural area near the small community of Weitchpec on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation, about 240 miles (350 kilometers) north of San Francisco and about 60 miles (96 kilometers) south of the Oregon border.
The temblor was widely felt within a 100-mile (160-kilometer) radius, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it wasn't large enough to generate a tsunami.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Department and Eureka Police Department sent deputies and officers to check on residents, but dispatchers said there were no immediate reports of emergencies. Things also seemed fine on the Hoopa reservation, according to Byron Nelson Jr., the tribe's vice chairman.
"It was just a mild shaking. It wasn't a sharp jerk," said Sgt. Gene McManus of the Del Norte County Sheriff's Department, a neighboring agency that also saw no immediate problems.
Children's building blocks tumbled at Weitchpec Elementary School, but the staff and students took the shaking in stride.
Kate Lowry, the school's sole teacher, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that she, her aide and the 19 children followed their earthquake drill procedure and filed out of the building.
"We were still moving as we were walking across," Lowry said. "Once we got down in the field, it had stopped."
At nearby Pearson's Grocery Store, Karen Pearson watched cans fall off the shelves as a man yelled for people to get out.
"It was very scary because you have no control of these things," Pearson said. "Hopefully it's over."
